Accused of attacking Maluka, 65-yr-old arrested from hospital

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, November 28

A week after Jarnail Singh, a farmer of Hamirgarh village, allegedly assaulted state minister Sikander Singh Maluka, the 65-year-old was arrested by the Bathinda police this evening from Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot.

The moment doctors in the hospital discharged him after giving him one week of treatment for multiple traumas here, the police team camping in the institute took Jarnail in custody.

Though his family members, activists of farmers’ union and AAP workers opposed the arrest and raised slogans against the state government, the police took Jarnail to the Dialpura police station in Bathinda.

Birbal Singh, SHO, Dayalpura police station, said Jarnail was wanted in an FIR registered against him under Sections 353, 186 and 120 B of the IPC for assaulting, obstructing and deterring public servant from discharge of his duty on November 20 at Hamirgarh village of Bathinda.

The FIR against him was registered on the complaint of Kuldeep Chand, personal assistant to Sikander Singh Maluka, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister.

Jarnail will be produced in the court of duty magistrate tomorrow, said the SHO.

In an unconscious condition, Jarnail was admitted to the hospital on November 20 after he was allegedly thrashed by supporters of the SAD minister, following the former’s assault bid on the latter.

When Jarnail gained consciousness three days later, he sent a complaint to the SSP, Bathinda, narrating the incident — how he was mercilessly beaten by some “goons” for over three hours. He had asked the SSP to register a case against Maluka, his alleged cohorts and some police officials who were witness to his “merciless beating”.

However Birbal Singh, SHO, Dayalpura, denied having received any complaint from Jarnail.

Jarnail’s son Sukhmander Singh alleged that the police had forced his father to sign the discharge slip to arrest him. “My father needed more treatment but immediately after completing the formalities for his discharge, the police took him into custody even as he was unable to stand on his feet,” alleged Sukhmander.

NK Jeet, advocate for Jarnail Singh, said the old man had filed an application for anticipatory bail in the court and this application was pending for decision on Monday. But in a pre-emptive move, the police arrested Jarnail so that his application for anticipatory bail in the court renders unfruitful.

“With the arrest of an old man like Jarnail Singh, the Akali leaders want to create terror in the mind of the common man,” alleged Jaspal Singh and Buta Singh, senior functionaries of the BKU (Ekta-Sidhupur).